Adverse childhood experiences influence development of pain during pregnancy. (3rd June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Drevin, Jennifer; Stern, Jenny; Annerbäck, Eva‐Maria; Peterson, Magnus; Butler, Stephen; Tydén, Tanja; Berglund, Anna; Larsson, Margareta; Kristiansson, Per
• Is Part Of: Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica. Volume 94:Number 8(2015)
• Page Start: 840
• Page End: 846
• Publication Date: 2015-06-03
• Subjects: Gynecology -- Periodicals; Pregnancy -- Periodicals; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; 618.05
• DOI: 10.1111/aogs.12674
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0001-6349

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="aogs12674-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="aogs12674-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>To investigate the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and pain with onset during pregnancy.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12674-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Design</title> <p>Cross‐sectional study.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12674-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Setting</title> <p>Eighteen antenatal clinics in southern Mid‐Sweden.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12674-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Sample</title> <p>Of 293 women invited to participate, 232 (79%) women agreed to participate in early pregnancy and were assessed in late pregnancy.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12674-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Questionnaires were distributed in early and late pregnancy. The questionnaires sought information on socio‐demography, ACE, pain location by pain drawing and pain intensity by visual analogue scales. Distribution of pain was coded in 41 predetermined areas.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12674-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Main outcome measures</title> <p>Pain in third trimester with onset during present pregnancy: intensity, location and number of pain locations.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12674-sec-0007" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>In late pregnancy, 62% of the women reported any ACE and 72% reported any pain location with onset during the present pregnancy. Among women reporting any ACE the median pain intensity was higher compared with women without such an experience (<italic>p</italic> = 0.01). The accumulated ACE displayed a positive association with the number of reported pain locations in late pregnancy (<italic>r</italic><sub>s</sub> = 0.19, <italic>p</italic> = 0.02). This association remained significant after adjusting for background factors in multiple regression analysis (<italic>p</italic> = 0.01). When ACE was dichotomized the prevalence of pain did not differ between women with and without ACE. The subgroup of women reporting physical abuse as a child reported a higher prevalence of sacral and pelvic pain (<italic>p</italic> = 0.0003 and <italic>p</italic> = 0.02, respectively).</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12674-sec-0008" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Adverse childhood experiences were associated with higher pain intensities and larger pain distributions in late pregnancy, which are risk factors for transition to chronic pain postpartum.</p> </sec> </abstract>